Device for opening and resealing cartons



Oct. 8, 1940. W H. KOTT 2,216,884

DEVICE FOR OPENING AND RESEALING CARTONS Filed Nov. 22. 1938 6Sheets-Sheet 1 u Iocl o t 3 x v N N zga l' INVENTOR.

HEREEET 077:

,QTTORNEY.

Oct. 8,1940. H. KOTT 2,216,884

DEVICE FOR OPENING AND HE SEALING CARTONS Filed Nov. 22, 1938 6Sheets-Sheet 2 L E} i a g 6 2 J AfTORNES.

l r I] II INVENTOR. t' HERBE'RT/(OTZ' Oct. 8, 1940.- I H, KOTT DEVICEFOR OPENING AND nasmmm cm'rons Filed Nov. 22, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR.

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Oct.- 8, 1940. H. KOTT DEVICE FOR OPENING AND RESEALING CARTQNS 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed um). 22, 1938 v INVENTOR hE'RsERr Ko 7-7."

ATTORNE 0d. 8, 1940. H KOTT DEVICE yon OPENING AND RESEALING muons FiledNew. 22 1938 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ZZQERBER K r7.- I Ml4u/ I.ATTORNEY.

Oct. 8, 1940. H. KOTT 2,216,884

DEVICE FOR OPENING AND RESEALING CARTONS Filed Nov. 22, 1938 6Sheets-Sheet 6 'M/ M L INVENTOR.

HERBE T/(Z T77 c I ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES I DEVICE FOR OPENING AND RESEALIN GCARTONS Herbert Kott, New York, N. Y., assignor to MoistenerCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York ApplicationNovember 22, 1938, Serial No. 241,824

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a device operative mechanically to open insuccession a plurality of sealed cartons to expose the packaged contentsof each carton for the application thereto of stamps, labels or inkimprints .without removing the same from the carton and subsequent tothe application of the said stamps to reseal the carton. Morespecifically the invention relates to a device for opening sealedcartons of packaged cigarettes for the application of tax stamps, labelsor ink imprints to the individual packages of cigarettes in the saidcarton.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe character described which will facilitate the application of stamps,

labels or ink imprints to packaged goods contained in the carton. Stillanother object is to provide means to efllciently and economically applytax stamps, labels or ink imprints to packaged goods enclosed withincartons without removing the packages from the carton. Other objectswill be apparent as the invention is more fully disclosed.

As a specific embodiment of the present invention but not as alimitation of the same, the

present invention will be described and illustrated as it has beenadapted to the opening and resealing of cigarette cartons. Cigarettesare commonly sold to the retail trade in packages containing twentycigarettes per package. The manufacturer distributes these packages insealed cartons containing ten packages each. The sizes of the packagesand the cartons are substantially uniform throughout the trade. It isoften desirable for tax or advertising purposes to apply stamps, labelsor ink imprints to the individual packages of cigarettes beforedistributing the cartons to the retailer who usually breaks open thecartons and distributes the cigarette packages individually to theconsumer. It is impractical for the manufacturer to apply these stamps,labels or ink imprints to the packages prior to the placing of the samein the cartons due to the local character of such stamps, labels and inkimprints. The present invention, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, aims to provide a device particularly adapted to open thecigarette carton in such manner as to expose the cigarette packagescontained therein for the application there-- to, manually ormechanically, of the desired stamps, labels or ink imprint and tothereafter reseal the carton.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the present invention;Fig. 2 is asection along plane 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a sideelevational view of the present invention; Fig. 4 is an end view of thesame; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the means of the presentinvention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a second means of theinvention; Fig. 7 is a view taken along plane 5 1-1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 isan enlarged plan view of a third means of thepresent invention; Fig. 9is another enlarged plan view of the same; Fig. 10 is 'a sectional viewof the same along plane Ill-40 of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a sectional view ofthe 10 same along plane ll--Hof Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a sectional view ofthe same along plane |2--l2 of Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is an enlarged view ofthe same along plane l3-l3 of Fig. 15 illustrating one 7 operatingposition of the said means; Fig. 14 il- 15 lustrates a mechanismcooperating with the said third means; Fig. 15 is an enlarged sideelevation of a portion of the present invention partly in sectionillustrating a fourth means of the present invention; Fig. 16 is asection along plane 20' "5-46 of Figs. 3 and 15; Fig. 17 is a sectionalong plane I'I--II of Figs. 15 and 19; Fig. 18 is a sectional view ofthe said fourth means; Fig. 19

is a section along plane 19-49 of Fig. 15; Fig. 20 isa section alongplane 2020 of Fig. 15 illustr'atg5 ing a fifth means of the presentinvention; Fig. 21

is a section along plane 2 I-2l of Figs. 3'and 20; Fig. 22 is asectional view along plane 22-22 of Fig. 3 illustrating a sixth means ofthe present invention; Fig. 23 is a perspective view of a'cigao rettecarton; Fig. 24 is a view along plane 24-24 of Figs. 3 and 25illustrating a seventh means of the present invention; Fig. 25 is anenlarged plan view of the same; Fig. 26 is a section along plane 26-26of Fig. 25; 27 is a section along plane 35 ,2|-2'l of Fig. 25; Fig. 28is a section along plane 28-48 of Fig. 25; and Fig. 29 is a sectionalong plane 29-49 of Fig. 25.

The device illustrated in the drawings is designed for the opening ofcartons of cigarettes. 40 Cigarette cartons, as indicated in Fig. 23,are rectangular in shape and are of such size as to contain ten packagesof cigarettes in two rows of five packages each with the top and bottomends of;

the packages adjacent opposite side walls of the carton. As commonlyconstructed, the carton is I a folded one piece structure. The ends ofthe.

carton are sealed to foldeclin extensions of both;

side walls and are provided with top extensions folding under the topflap. The top flap is hinged 50 to the back side wall and is providedwith an extension folding under and sealed to the front side wallforming a sealed joint therewith. It is cus- I i tomary to pack thecigarette packages in the car ton with the Federal tax stamp, whichcloses the 55 top of the package, adJacent the back side wall therebylocating the bottom of the package adjacent the front side wall of thecarton and adjacent the sealed joint between the top flap extension andthe front side wall. Where it is desired, therefore, to apply stamps,labels or ink lm-' prints onto the bottom of each ofthe packages in thecarton without removing the packages from the carton, means must beprovided to open the front side wall of the carton.

Where it is desired to reseal the carton after the application of thestamps, labels or ink imprints to the packages, means must be providedto open the carton along the sealed union of the top flap extension tothe said side wall and to provide means to cut the side wall free fromthe extensions thereon which are folded under and sealed to the two endwalls of the carton, thus providing flaps A and B, one of which (flap B)is the top flap extension and the other of which (flap A) is the frontside wall, flap A in normal carton closing position overlaps flap B.These overlapping flaps A and B therefore may be subsequently joinedtogether by an adhesive, such as glue, mucilage, etc. which can beapplied to the top surface of flap 3 or the under surface of flap A. Thedevice of the present invention is adapted to so open and reseal acigarette carton. Referring now to the drawings, the present inventionprovides a horizontally sustained guideway I, a traveling conveyer 2 inthe bottom of the guideway I provided with spaced dogs 3, the spacingtherebetween being approximately that of the length of a carton C, andmeans to actuate or drive the said conveyer 2 at a substantiallyconstant rate of speed in the direction from left to right of thedrawings Fig. 1. This means will be more fully described hereinafter.

Hopper H is provided with means R to gravitationally feed a plurality ofcartons C successively onto the rear end of conveyer 2 to be carriedforwardly thereby. Cartons C are disposed in feed hopper H eithermanually or mechanically so that the top of the carton will be in viewwith the front side wall facing up and are delivered periodically bymeans R onto the conveyer 2 front side wall facing up with theunder-lapping flap B of the sealed joint located to the front as viewedin Fig. 3.

Conveyer 2 carries the carton C to a position to be engaged by slittingmeans S-S, thence through opening means 0, gluing means G,

dryer means D onto transfer platform T whereon means F closes flaps Aand B and means P pushes or transfers the closed carton C onto returnconveyer 4 which carries the carton C through sealing means M todischarge hopper H.

Actuation of the conveyers 2 and 4 and the several means R, S, O, G, D,T, F, P, and M, above identified is obtained (as indicated in Figs. 2and 4) from a common source of power, such as motor 6, connected by beltI to pulley 8 attached to main drive shaft 9. The power to -actuate theseveral said means (R, S, 0, etc.) is

takentoif from the main drive shaft 9 by means of appropriateinterlocking worm gears onto shafts l2, l3 and 14, the several saidmeans (R. S, 0, etc.) being actuated by means of cam and levers by saidshafts l2, l3 and M in determined sequence and relation one to the otheras will be more fully hereinafter described. Motor. 6 is energized byelectric current passing from a source of supply (not shown) throughcontrol switch box Ill provided with throw swit'ch II in a position forready operation by the operator of the device. Motor 6 may be a constantspeed motor or the speed of motor 6 may be regulated in any desired way,as heretofore common in the art, to control the rate of travel ofconveyers 2 and 4. The arrangement as shown utilizes a constant speedmotor 6 and the gear ratio taking power off from the main drive shaft 9have been selected to obtain the desired actuating results in theseveral means above identified.

Upon actuation of motor 6 main drive shaft 9 is rotated and the rotationof shaft 9 is transmitted to shaft l2 by worm gear I5 thereby rotatinggear l6 meshing with conveyer chain 2 horizontally sustained betweengear [6 and gear I! on shaft l8 in the bottom of guideway I.

The rotary motion of shaft 9 also is transmitted by worm .gear l9 toshaft [3 and by worm gear to shaft I4 and by gear 2| to conveyer 4sustained horizontally between gear 2| and gear 22 on shaft 23 in thebottom of return guideway l'. The direction of travel of the twoconveyers 2 and 4 thereby is reversed but the rate of travel of the twoconveyers is arranged to be substantially identical.

Referring now to the several means (R, S, 0, etc.) above identified:

The periodic operation of release means R may be noted from Figs. 6 and7. The means R comprises a vertically sustained lever arm pivoted at 3|,the bottom end of lever arm 30 being linked by link 32 to spring pressedpivoted lever 33 (Fig. 1) carrying pin 34 on one end engaging rotatingcam 35 mounted on the end of shaft l2. The rotation of shaft l2 rotatescam 35 and oscillates lever 33 about its pivot against spring means 36causing the upper section of arm 30 to move periodically towards andaway from the feed hopper H. The upper end of lever arm 30 is providedwith a finger (means R) which moves into and out of engagement with thebottom of carton C next above the carton C resting on conveyer 2 withoscillation of arm 30. Feed hopper H is angularly disposed to thehorizontal to provide for a gravity feed of the cartons towards conveyer2 and to provide a space gap between the two lowermost cartons to permitthe entry of means R therebetween. The oscillation of arm 30 isregulated by cam 35 to be at such timed intervals with respect to theforward movement of the carton C on conveyer 2 that as conveyer 2carries the carton C thereon forwardly from under the hopper H byengagement of a cog 3 therewith, the cam 35 operates to retract finger Ras the carton C clears the hopper H so that the next following carton Cis released to fall onto the conveyer 2 in the next adjacent space onthe conveyer 2 to be engaged by the following dog 3 and similarlycarried forward. Hopper H accordingly is preferably arranged to carry aplurality of cartons C gravitationally feeding towards the conveyer 2substantially as indicated in the drawings, and may be of any practicallength and design adapted to accomplish this result. Means to supplycartons to the hopper H automatically or manually may be suppliedwithout departure from the present invention. As shown, the hopper H iskept filled comprises spring tension arms 3138 mounted along each sideof hopper H, the outer said arm 31 being mounted stationary on thehopper H and the inner said arm being free to be moved aerasec inwardlyto a position frictionally engaging the ends of cartons C in the hopperunder the urging of bolt means 39.

Conveyer 2 after picking up carton C in the Referring to Figs. 7-14inclusive the details of this means SS may be noted. The meansessentially comprises a movable knife 40 and stationai'y knife 4|. Themovable knife 40 is actuated by rotating cam 35 on shaft l2 and operatesto penetrate between the flaps A and B and to slit open the forward endof the moving carton C by cutting the side wall free of the flapextension thereon which is sealed to the said end. Means 42 is providedto lift the slit forward edge of the upper flap A so that the stationaryknife 4| can enter between flaps A and B as the carton C is advanced byconveyer2 to the stationary knife 4|. Cam 35 meanwhile operates towithdraw movable knife 40 against the action of spring means 43 into aposition from which it is released and actuated by the said spring means43 forwardly for penetrating and slitting the next following carton C.as the said next following carton-is carried by conveyer 2 to the samedetermined position relative to the slitting and cutting means S-S.

To provide for the variations and fluctuations in the horizontallocation of the sealed junction between flaps A and B and to positivelylocate the same relative to the movable knife 40, overlying riderextension 44 is provided on knife 40 which carries a rounded button 45on the under side thereof which operates to accurately space the pointedforward end of the knife 40 horizontally relative to the upper surfaceof carton C and relative to the sealed joint between flaps A and B.Knife 40 is floatingly supported to permit free vertical movement underthe urging of rider 44 to attain this horizontal positioning of knife40.

Knife 40 is actuated by cam 35 in the following manner. As cam 35 isrotated by shaft l2, pin 46 is moved outwardly by the rising cam face tohigh position moving therewith lever arm 46a,

pivoted at 45b. The free end of lever .a'rm 4611 is attached by pin 460to swinging lever 41 supporting the rear end of knife 40. The front endi of knife 40 is similarly mounted on a second swinging lever 41a andthe two swinging levers 41 and 41a are linked together for jointmovement; and parallel movement by link 41b.

Swinging levers 41 and 41a-are substantially identicaland each ismounted to pivot horizontally about a fulcrum under the urging of pin46c oscillatedby lever 46a by engagement of pin 45 with rotating cam 35.The horizontal rotation of swinging levers 41 and 41a carries knife 40supported thereon from the position shown in solid lines (Fig. 8) to theposition indicated in dotted lines as the pin 45 is carried outwardly byrotating cam 35 to high position. As the pin 46 falls over the highpoint of rotating cam 35 spring means 43 returns lever 45a inwardly withconsequent inward movement of knife 43- to an intermediate point on thecam 35 which is just sufficient to permit the point of the knife" toengage or enter between the overlapping flaps A' and B.

Further rotation of cam' 35 releases pin 46 from this intermediate pointon the cam 35 and spring tension means 43 then urges lever 46a to fullinward position carrying therewith knife 40 in a rotary movementindicated by dotted arrow (Fig. 8). Further rotation of cam 35 repeatsthis movement. The angle of movement of lever 46a and the points ofrelease on cam 35 to obtain the forward cutting movement of knife 40areltimed relative to the rate of travel of conveyer 2 to obtain arelease of the knife 40 when each carton C attains a determined positionrelative to the knife 40, slightly in the rear of the forward end of thecarton C so that on completion of the forward rotary motion of knife 40the forward edge of the side wall will be slit or out free from the endwall while the carton C continues to be carried forwardly by conveyer 2.

The rear edge of knife 40 is provided with a thickened portion 40aoperating as a wedge to spread'apart flaps A andB insuring a breakingdisplaced by knife 4|] during this cutting of the forward edge, means(Fig. 14) is provided to restrain forward movement of carton C at thismoment. This means substantially comprises a spring pressed lever 50located in the side wall of guideway in a position to be engaged by theupper portion of the forward end of carton C at the time means S'S'operates. The forward movement of carton C operates to pivot the lever50 against the spring 5| to a position permitting thecarton C tocontinue unimpeded along the guideway. As the carton C clears the lever50 the lever is urged by spring 5| back to its original position toengage the next following carton C.

Knife 40 is floatingly supported on the two rotating platforms 4'|4'|arespectively by means of lever arms 48 and 49 pivoted respectively onposts 52 and 53. The outer ends of lever arms 48 and 49. are connectedby links 54 and 55 respectively to the forward and rear ends ,45

overlapping joint between the sidewall A and the underlying flapextension B of the carton Subsequently to the slitting of the side ofcarton C by knife 40, wedge 42 is actuated forwardly a sufficientdistance to enter between flaps A and B to raise the forward edge of theslit upper flap A a sumcient distance to allow stationary knife 4| toenter therebetween as the carton C is carried thereto by conveyer 2.

Wedge42 is actuated by pivoted lever 6| oscillated by cam 50 on rotatingstub shaft 32 rotated by shaft |3 from shaft l2. It substantiallycomprises a wedge element maintained by spring means 33 in retractedposition and urged forwardly into wedging position by the oscillation of4I rod I0 raises upper flap A to position enabling opening means 0 tooperate to spread flaps A and B so that the packages of cigarettes inthe carton C are exposed fully to view. Just before carton C is carriedto a position where means 0 operates to open the carton exposing thepackages contained therein fully to view, rotating lever I09 on stubshaft 62 provided with downwardly extending finger I 09a engages theinner edge of flap B and raises the same sufllciently to insure theoperation of means 0.

Means O substantially comprises a plow H having outwardly and downwardlycurved sides I2 and I3 adapted to spread flaps A and B outwardly anddownwardly to a horizontal position. Flaps A and B thus spread passunder guides I4 and I5 retaining the flaps in this position.

As the rear end of carton C reaches knife H the knife edge slits or cutsthe side wall free from the rear end wall of the carton C guideway Ioperating to hold the carton and its contents together. At the same timecam 66 operates to frictionally engage the side of carton C restrainingthe same from rearward displacement.

The thus opened carton passes along under guides I4 and I5 a sufficientdistance to permit the application, manually or automatically, ofstamps, labels or ink imprints to the exposed bottom ends of thepackages in the carton. This distance obviously may be widely variedwithout departure from the present invention to accommodate the deviceto the particular stamp, label or ink imprint being applied, the mode ofapplication employed and the speed of application of the said stamp,label or ink imprint.

As the stamps, labels or ink imprints are applied to the packages orimmediately thereafter and before carton C approaches the end of guides14 and 15, the under side of horizontally spread flap B which is the topsurface when the flap B is in carton closing position, is coated with anadhesive, such as glue, by means G. This means G substantially comprisesa wheel 80 supported in a position to contact with the under surface offlap 3 and to be rotated by frictional engagement of flap B therewith,the bottom of this wheel dipping into glue pot 8|. Appropriate wipermeans 82 may be provided to regulate the amount of glue thereby appliedto flap B. The strip of glue thereby applied is indicated at 83 (Fi 23).

Subsequent to the application of the stamps, labels or ink imprints to.the packages and prior to the closing of the carton and rescaling thesame, the open carton should be passed under dryer D to dry the stamps,labels or ink imprints. This means may be widely varied withoutdeparture from the present invention and is necessary to accelerate therate of drying of the stamps, labels or ink imprints to shorten the timeinterval required before closing and sealing the carton C and toproperly secure ink imprints onto the usual Cellophane wrappings on saidpackages. As indicated in the drawings dryer D is an open bottomed oven90 mounted on a lever arm SI which is operatively connected with controlswitch II so that when the switch -II is in closed position oven 90 ismoved to operative position over conveyer 2 and out of operativeposition as indicated in dotted lines when switch II is open.

Heat energy is preferably supplied to oven 90 by means of electricalresistance elements 92 common to the art, such as nichrome and the likealloys, and preferably also as a safety measure, though not necessarily,the energization of the heating coils 92 may also be controlled orregulated by the opening and closing of switch means II such that theelectrical circuit including the heating coils for oven 90 is closedonly when switch II is closed.

After passing under oven 90, conveyer 2 delivers carton 0 onto transferplatform T whereon transfer or pusher means P engages the carton andshifts the-same over onto return conveyer 4 for delivery to dischargehopper H.

As carton C passes onto transfer platform T means I00 returns fiap B tonear horizontal carton closing position and as pusher P passes thecarton C onto return conveyer 4 spring IOI engages flap B bending itover to fully closed position and arm I04 through spring I05 holds thecarton steady as cam I06 on shaft I4 moves lever I01 to push forward thepusher means P moving the carton under spring fingers IOI operating toclose flap A in overlying position relative to flap B and thence ontoconveyer 4 where it is picked up by dogs 3 and'moved towards dischargehopper H under pressure springs I08 which maintain the flaps A and B incontact along the glued area of flap B until the carton approacheshopper H thus insuring sealing of the two flaps together.

As the carton reaches hopper H any convenient means may be provided tounload the carton onto inclined skidway IIO leading thereto. As shownthe cartons are delivered by conveyer 4 directly onto the inclinedskidway H0.

From the above description of the present invention and from thedrawings, it is believed apparentthat many modifications may be madetherein without essential departure therefrom and all such modificationsand adaptations thereof are contemplated as may fall within the scope ofthe accompanying claims:

.What I claim is:

1. A carton opening and rescaling device comprising in combination ahorizontally sustained conveyer, means to feed a plurality of cartonssuccessively onto said conveyer to be carried forwardly thereby indetermined spaced relationship, and separate means located at spaceddistances along the path of travel of said conveyer operative first toslit one side of the carton open, then to turn back the slit portions ofsaid side exposing the packaged contents of the carton fully to view,then to return the said portions back to closing position and finally tojoin the said portions together to reseal the said carton.

2. A carton opening and rescaling device comprising in combination ahorizontally sustained conveyer, means to feed a succession of cartonson said conveyer to be carried forwardly thereby in determined spacedrelationship, and separate means located at spaced distances along thepath of travel of said conveyer operative first to slit one side of thecarton open, forming two flaps thereof, secondly to turn back the saidflaps exposing the packaged contents of the carton fully to view,thirdly to return the said flaps back to closing position and fourthlyto join the said flaps together to reseal the said carton.

3. A carton opening and 'resealing device comprising in combination ahorizontally sustained conveyer, means to feed a plurality of cartons indetermined spaced relation onto said conveyer, and a plurality ofseparate means located at spaced points along the path of .travel ofsaid conveyer, said plurality of means comprising the following means inthe order given; means to slit one wall of the carton open to provideflaps I prising in combination a horizontally sustained conveyer, meansto forwardly drive said conveyer,

means to feed a succession of cartons periodically onto said conveyer tobe carried forwardly thereby, guide means defining a determinedhorizontal path of travel for said cartons on said conveyer, and aplurality of means located in spaced relation along the said determinedpath of travel of said cartons operative successively to slit one sideof said carton open, to spread the slit portions of said side to exposethe carton contents fully to view, to return the said slit portions tocarton closing position and to join the slit portions together in cartonsealing relation.

5. A carton opening and resealing device comprising in combination ahorizontally sustained conveyer, means to forwardly drive said conveyer,means to feed a succession of cartons onto said conveyer" to beforwardly carried thereby, means to position said cartons in determinedspaced relationship on said conveyer, a guideway means defining adetermined path of horizontal travel for said cartons on said conveyer,and a plurality of means disposed at spaced distances adjacent said pathof travel of said cartons operative successively to slit open one wallof said carton, to turn back the slit portions of said wall to aposition exposing the contents of the carton fully to view, to returnthe said slit portions to carton closing position and to join the saidslit portions together in carton sealing relation.

6,. A carton opening and resealing device comprising in combination, ahorizontally sustained conveyer, a guideway defining a horizontal pathof travel for said conveyer, means to feed a plurality of cartonssuccessively onto said conveyer to be carried thereby along saidguideway, means on said conveyer to locate said cartons thereon indetermined spaced relationship and a plurality of means disposed atspaced points along the path of travel of said cartons to engage eachsaid carton successively as it is carried forwardly by said conveyer toeach said plurality of means to first slit open one vwall of the carton,to seeondly open up the'slit portions of the said wall exposing thecarton contents fully to-viewand thirdly to return. the said slitportions to carton closing position withv a seal union therebetween.

prises in combination. a horizontally sustained conveyer, meanstoforwardly drive said conveyer,

means to periodically feed said cartonswith the.

said joint facing upwardly onto said conveyer to' bej'forwardly carriedthereby, means spacing said cartons on said conveyer, a guidewaydefinin'g a jdetermined horizontal path of travel for said cartons, aknife ,means movably sustained adjacent the path of travel of saidcarton, means to move said knife means into engagement with saidcartonbetween the said flaps forming said joint to separate the same andforwardly to cut free @the forward end of said flap from the saidcarton, astationary knife means forwardly said movable, knife means toengage between said to out free the rear end of said flap as the cartonis moved past the knife, means to spread open the two said flapsexposing the carton contents to view, means to return the flaps tocarton sealing position and means to seal the same together.

8. A carton opening and resealing device -for cigarette cartons providedwith an overlapped glue-sealed side wall comprising in combination ahorizontally sustained conveyer, means to forwardly drive said conveyer,means to supply cartons of cigarettes periodically to said conveyer tobe carried forwardly thereby, means locating said cartons in determinedspaced end to end relation on said conveyer with the overlappedgluesealed side wall of the carton facing up, guideway means defining adetermined path of horizontal travel for said cartons and means locatedalong 7 said determined path to first open the sealed joint packagedcarton contents thereof fully to view for a time interval adapted topermit the application thereto of stamps, labels or ink imprints,

fifthly, to dry said stamps, labels or ink imprints, sixthly, to returnthe said flaps to carton closing position and to join the same togetherresealing the said carton.

9. A cigarette carton opening and resealing device comprising incombination a horizontally sustained conveyer, means to forwardly drivesaid conveyer, means to feed a succession of cartons onto said conveyerto be forwardly carried thereby, means locating said cartons in end toend spaced relationship on said conveyer with one side wall facing up,said side wall being that having an overlapping seal joint between saidside wall and a flap extension on the adjacent top wall of the carton, aguideway defining a deter-' mined path of horizontal travel for saidspaced cartons, a movable knife means forwardly said carton feedingmeans, means actuated by said conveyer drive means to periodicallyadvance and retract the said movable knife means to a position engagingthe said knife'means between the said joint in said side wall toseparate the flap extension" from the side wall and to'sever the forwardedge of the side wall from the forward end wall of the carton, a secondknife means forward the first said knife means located in a position toenter the space gap between said flap and side wall and to complete theseparation of the two and the severance of the rear edge of the sidewall from the rear end of the carton,

means to spread open the two said flaps and to maintain the same inspread position for a time interval adapted to permit the application ofstamps, labels or ink imprints onto the exposed contents of the carton,means to dry the said stamps, labels or ink imprints to afiix the samethereto, means to return the flaps to carton closing position and meansto seal the same together closing the said carton.

10. In a cigarette carton opening and resealing device, a horizontallysustained and forwardly driven conveyer, means to feed a succession ofcartons periodically onto said conveyer with the sealed side wall of thecarton facing upwardly to be forwardly carried thereby, means locatingsaid cartons in determined spaced relation on 1 said conveyer, meanslocated forwardly said carton feeding means to open up the sealed jointof the upwardly facing carton side and to out free the forward and rearedges of the same as each said carton arrives at a determined positionrelative said means, means forwardly said opening and cutting means tospread said slit side to expose the carton contents fully to view, meansforwardly said spreading means to retain said slit side in fully openposition for a time interval suflicient to permit the application ofstamps, labels, or ink imprints to said contents, means overlying saidretaining means to dry said stamps, labels or ink imprints, meansforwardly said drying means to return the slit side to carton closingposition and means to reseal the same.

11. In the combination of claim 10, said opening and cutting meanscomprising in combination a movable knife, a wedge means and astationary knife, the said movable knife being horizontally sustainedadjacent the path of travel and being provided with means periodicallyadvancing and retracting the same towards and; away from the said cartona distance and in the direction operative to cause the joint of theknife to pierce the sealed joint of the upwardly facing side of saidcarton and the cutting edge of the knife to swing in the direction ofcarton travel a suflicient distance to sever the forward edge of theside free from the forward end wall of the carton, the periodicity ofsaid knife movement being adapted to coincide with the arrival of acarton in a position opposite said knife, the said wedge means beingoperatively connected to periodically advance and retract in sequentialmovement of the said movable knife means to raise the severed forwardend of said wall a distance above the top of said carton, and the saidstaengage the under side of said raised forward end and to finish theseparation of the sealed joint and the severing of the rear edges of thesaid carton side from the said carton.

12. A carton opening and closing device for cartons provided with anoverlapping sealed joint located in one wall thereof, said devicecomprising in combination two horizontally sustained parallel guideways,a traveling conveyer in each said guideway, means to forwardly drive onesaid conveyer and to reversely drive the other said conveyer, means tofeed a plurality of cartons successively onto the one said conveyer withthe sealed wall facing upwardly to be forwardly car-'- ried therebyalong said guideway, a movable knife means disposed forwardly saidcarton feeding means adjacent said guideway, means to periodicallyactuate said knife means to engage between the overlapping portions ofthe sealed wall of each said carton as it reaches a determined fortheoperation of spreading apart the sealed joint of the said carton andcutting free the rear end of the same from the rear end wall of thecarton, means adjacent to and forwardly said stationary knife means tolift up and to bend back the separated portions of said carton wall asthe carton is carried by the said conveyer thereto, means retaining saidturned back portions in turned back position, a transfer platform at theend of said one conveyer, a transfer means on said platform, saidtransfer means including means to return said separated portions of thecarton wall to carton closing position and means to transfer the saidcarton onto the second said conveyer, means to join the said separatedportions together rescaling the same, and means to discharge saidresealed carton from said second conveyer.

13. In the combination of claim 12, a dryer means adjacent the dischargeend of said first guideway said means being disposed over the top ofsaid guideway in a position to supply heat onto the open carton as it iscarried thereunder by said conveyer means.

14. In carton opening and resealing devices for cartons provided with anoverlapping sealed joint in one wall thereof formed by a flap extensionon a hinged top disposed in underlying position to a side wall, aconveyor means to carry a plurality of said cartons in determined spacedsuccession along a determined path of travel, a knife means locatedadjacent the rear end of said conveyor and operatively connectedtherewith to be periodically actuated to move into a position to engage.the forward end of each said carton as it reaches a determined positionrelative thereto to spread apart the overlapping sealed joint at theforward end of the carton and to out free the forward end of theoverlapping side wall of the carton from the forward end wall thereof, asecond knife means disposed forwardly of said first knife means in aposition to enter into the space gap between said spread apart portionsof the overlapping joint as the carton is moved forwardly thereto and tocomplete the separation ofthe overlapping joint as the carton is movedpast the knife means and to out free the rear end of the overlappingside wall of the carton from the rear wall thereof as the carton leavesthe said knife means, means to bend back the two flap members therebyproduced by the said knife means to expose the carton con-' tentsfullyto view, means to apply an. adhesive composition to the upper faceof the underlapping flap member, each said means being auto' maticallyoperative to perform its said functions as the said carton is conveyedalong the said determined path of travel by the said conveyor means, aplatform at the forward end of said conveyor to receive the said cartonsfrom the conveyor, and means automatically operative in timed sequencewith the movement of said conveyor to close said flap members and totransfer the said closed carton onto a second conveyor and spring meansoverlying the said second conveyor to retain the said flapsin closedposition for a time interval at least suflicient to obtain a sealedjoint therebetween.

15. In carton opening and rescaling devices for cartons provided with anoverlapping sealed joint in one wall thereof, means to convey thecartons in determined end spaced relation along a determined path oftravel with the overlapping sealed joint facing upwardly, a knife meanslocated adjacent the rear end of said path of travel and operativelyconnectedwith said consition adapting the same to be inserted betweenthe overlapping sealed joint of each said carton as the forward end ofthe carton approaches the said knife means and to be forwardly urged in.

I veying means to be periodically actuated to a pothe direction ofcarton travel a distance sum cient to out free the forward end of theoverlapping portion of the joint from the-forward end of the carton, awedge means adjacent but forwardly said knife means to enter into thespace gap between said overlapping portions formed by said knife meansto spread apart the same, and a second knife means disposed forwardlysaid wedge means across the path of travel of said carton to enter intosaid space gap behind said wedge means to complete the breaking of thesealed joint and to out free the rear end of the overlapping. portion ofthe joint from the rear end wall of the carton.

16. In association with the means defined in the device of claim 15,means to lift up and to bend back the two flaps thus formed by the saidknife means to expose the carton contents fully to view, means to retainthe said flaps in such position for a determined time interval while thesaid carton is being forwardly carried by said conveyor, means to applyan adhesive onto one of the fiapsurfaces in a position to be interposedbetween the two said flaps on a return of the flaps to overlappingposition while the said flaps are being retained in fully open position,and means to return the flaps to overlapping position and to seal thesame together as the said carton is discharged from the said conveyor.

HERBERT KOTI.

